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Ambulance contract will be up for bid, council says

A contract for ambulance services held by the city of Grand Junction will be put out for bid. The current contract, which is handled by the Grand Junction Fire Department, was awarded on a five-year basis and that contract expires in June. The city is also entering a bid proposal.

The issue was raised Monday during a workshop of Grand Junction City Council members.

The council is sensitive about re- creating a scenario like the one that recently caused backlash when city staff conducted a bid proposal including its own Two Rivers Convention Center. City staff recommended its services in lieu of private businesses for a new contract at Pi&#241on Grill, a restaurant at the city’s Tiara Rado Golf Course.

“I think the community is expecting us to bid it out,” Grand Junction Mayor Teresa Coons said.

Coons, who serves on the Emergency Medical Services Council, said she thought at least one other ambulance service may respond with a bid for services.

Much of the City Council has turned over in the past five years, but council member Bruce Hill, who voted against awarding the city the ambulance contract, said the 4–3 vote at that time was “close and contentious,” and that he, too, wanted to see the process go out for bid.

City staff was given direction Monday to start the process for gathering bids and to compile a report on the city’s handling of services.

In other business, members of the Grand Valley Zoological Quest presented a plan for a zoo in the Grand Valley. Council members have said they would be more willing to donate land for the venture near Western Colorado Botanical Gardens than at Matchett Park off F Road.

The nonprofit group said it is considering purchasing land in Mesa County and needs to acquire land before starting fundraising.

City staff was directed to work with the group to outline transportation infrastructure costs associated with a development in a few of its possible locations.